Portugal student - Admission at Medicine (UK)

[markportugal]

Hi all

I would like to know how can I be admitted at medicine in UK. If i need to make some kind of exams, get some specific documents, apply singularly to each faculty..

I am a 2nd year student at dental medicine, in portugal. With the nem bolonha treaty, I am studying to get a mastership. I am sorry if I am wrong, but I believe mastership ("Mestrado") is Ms. I would like to know if there is any kind of program that enables the transfer of international student to UK.
I also know that getting in into Medicine in UK is quite hard, so I believe i need to make some exams, but, as i've already said, I don't really have that much information and I would really appretiate if someone could inform me.


Alternately, I would like to know if there is anyone I can contact as regarding to this matter.

[theicemaiden]

All admissions to medicine in the UK are done through UCAS, go to www.ucas.ac.uk for more information.

It is indeed competitive, and as a non-english speaker you would also have to prove that your language skills are up to the standard required of a medicine degree. This would probably be done by an IELTS test - see http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-ielts.htm.

You would not be able to transfer, you would have to start in the 1st year. If you just wanted to study in the UK for a short period of time, this may be possible via ERASMUS -http://www.erasmus.ac.uk/.

[markportugal]

Thank you for the information. Right now, I'll go and get more information about ERASMUS, if my university has some agreement with a UK university. I don't believe I would "endure" all the changes that envolve going to UK and study for some years, so far from all the things I'm used to have and live. Again, thanks.

[sumina13]

quick question for you mark: how do you foresee graduates from medicine in the UK being considered for specialty training (i.e. psychiatry) in portugal?

[markportugal]

Well, I wouldn't see any problem. With the new bolonha treaty, you may even find this to be more easy. As i've said before, I don't really know what is the meaning of some degrees you talk. What I can say is that, in portugal, in order to acess, for example, the specialty of psichology, you must be the owner of a licensure course in medicine ( well, with bolonha treaty you might even call it a mastership in medicine) that lasts 6 years, including an intern year. Then you can apply to a specialty exam, and according to the grade you obtain, you will acess diferent specialties. From all I know, Dermathology is one of the most wanted, as an example.

So, I can only see a problem if you possess a degree from other country, and that is the access to the so-called specialty exam. Of course, this is how I believe it is, but it does not necessarily represent the true facts. So, if you are considering to apply to the specialty exam, you might want to contact the faculty of medicine in coimbra ( www.uc.pt) and get some more info.

I hope that helped

[sumina13]

many thanks Mark!
i'm gonna research some more on doing the specialty training in portugal as I also speak portuguese (brazilian).

Since you were curious about the ERASMUS program, you might want to check on "electives", given you are still a student in dental medicine, right? "Electives" are periods of approximately 4 weeks, where you can go away and study somewhere else. I believe your program needs to allow them in the first place though.

tudo de bom!

[markportugal]

You're welcome to ask anything. Obviously, I can only give a limited amount of info, as I only know how it works because my ex-GF is in medicine and explained it to me.

I am looking up on the ERASMUS programme, but I am starting to believe that my univ doesn't have any contracts/programmes with UK univs.. And I really wanted to go to UK...


Fica bem e boa sorte com os estudos !

[saracastro]

quick question for you mark: how do you foresee graduates from medicine in the UK being considered for specialty training (i.e. psychiatry) in portugal?

well, I would say that it would be quite easy for you to be considered. Portugal and the UK are both members of the EU (with ou without Bologne) so they have to consider you on the same grounds as the Portuguese are.
There is an exam (100 questions from Harrison's) and people get to choose their specialty/hospital based on their marks.
If you have any doubts try this website: www.medicointerno.com . It's Conselho Nacional do Médico Interno website (they belong to the "Portuguese GMC" - Ordem dos Médicos). They also have a forum.

[sumina13]

hi saracastro,
thanks a bunch for the information. i'll check it out. i am not a EU citizen however, which might make things a bit more difficult (i'll find out by going to their website).
muito obrigado!